Paul Gascoigne: Helping to coach kids at Newcastle United has brought new life

PAUL Gascoigne has endured a tortuous and tumultuous life since hanging up his boots nearly six years ago, but his new “informal” job helping to coach academy kids at Newcastle United has brought him back from the brink.

Helping to coach kids at Newcastle United has brought new life to Paul Gascoigne []

Gascoigne’s drinking demons meant he was in an awful state earlier this year but, since starting his new post as a part-time coach at his former club a few weeks ago, he is smiling again and sober.

Gascoigne’s first steps into management as boss at non-League Kettering in 2005 were disastrous but

in his lower profile at St James’ Park, where he
helps former team-mate Peter Beardsley coach the kids, he is enjoying
life again.

“What has happened in the past is
in the past and I am not making any promises which I can’t keep, but I
am so happy to be back in the game and training with the academy kids,”
said Gascoigne.

“I love football and I loved
being a footballer. I’d give anything to put on a pair of boots but the
next best thing is training with youngsters.

“I’m
happy as a person right now. I’m feeling good about myself and having
something to get up for every morning is a great feeling. Health-wise
I’m in the best place I’ve been in for a long while.

“Peter Beardsley has been fantastic for me and makes sure I’m OK.

“He
is also a brilliant coach and the kids think he is fantastic. I’d like
to do my coaching badges and carry on coaching as long as I can. That’s
got to be my aim, to stay happy and to help Peter as much as I can.

“Peter has always been there for me and I am loving every minute of working with him.

“I think the key to my happiness is keeping busy and hopefully I can take this chance to change my life.”

Gascoigne, 42, finished playing at Boston United six years ago.

He
spent three years with Newcastle, leaving for Spurs in 1988, but he
says the return to his ‘spiritual home’ has been a lifeline. “To be
back where I started has been an amazing feeling and I cannot be
happier,” he said.

“Peter comes around and
gets me up every morning and he makes sure my fridge has got all the
right things in it like bread and milk.

“Working in football makes me feel so happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, even when I was a kid.”

Beardsley said: “It is great for him to join in every day. It is fantastic to have him around.”